SCARCELY Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

scarcely

adverb

ˈskers-lē

Definition of scarcely

as in barely

by a very small margin was scarcely able to walk after the near-fatal accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in no

certainly not I scarcely think that one person being sick is an "epidemic"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of scarcely Parents of friends would give Flash records from their collections, scarcely aware of what transformations their dusty music would undergo. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Roman will spend more than a quarter of its planned five-year primary mission observing this 10,000-light-year-wide region, which is so sprawling and thick with stars that previous telescopes have scarcely probed its depths. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 29 Aug. 2026 She was cut from a singular cloth with an artistic vision as distinctive as that voice of hers, an instrument of pure emotion that could scarcely be more instantly identifiable as Dolly Parton. — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The activity now seen actually serves as a further threat to competitive balance in a division where scarcely anyone stands a chance of winning the title in the first place. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scarcely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarcely

Adverb

But behind that number is a battlefield engagement, a target barely visible across the landscape, and a shot whose details may remain classified or disputed for years.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Season 2 picks up from where things left off, with Michael and Diana having barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of barely

Adverb

In that regard, Reed was no different from anyone else who has tried and failed to solve the Wembanyama conundrum.

— Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
If looking for a single reason the Dodgers didn’t three-peat, look no further than the guy who led them to their two-peat.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of no

Adverb

Roan also adds an new verse to the song, slightly changing the lyrics to reference a mediocre female suitor alongside Rodrigo’s original lines.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Montana's 1st District is slightly less Republican overall than the state, which voted for Trump by double digits in each of his three presidential campaigns.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slightly

Adverb

Completing the flight test just weeks after a captive-carry event demonstrated how quickly the program progressed through its testing sequence.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The mattress was ready to sleep on just a few hours after unpacking.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of just

Browse Nearby Words

scarce

scarcely

scarceness

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Style

“Scarcely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarcely. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scarcely

adverb

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